Your STIHL chainsaw is built for demanding jobs, but dirt and grime can stop it from performing at its best. Here’s how to clean your gas, battery or electric chainsaw.
Before you start
Before you start, make sure the chainsaw is switched off and cannot start during maintenance:
- Unplug an electric chainsaw.
- Remove the battery from a battery chainsaw and engage the chain brake.
- Switch off a petrol chainsaw and engage the chain brake.
Wear work gloves for protection. You can find details on suitable protective equipment and safe use in the tool’s instruction manual. There are specific tips for cleaning battery and petrol saws later in this guide.
Remove stubborn dirt
Check whether the cooling air slots are clean. If needed, clean them with a brush or compressed air. Clear airflow helps prevent the engine from overheating.
Remove the sprocket cover and clean the area around the sprocket. Use a resin remover to deal with stubborn dirt.
Clean the chain and guide bar
Regular cleaning reduces wear on the guide bar and saw chain. Remove the chain and guide bar from the chainsaw.
Use a file gauge to clear oil and dirt from the oil outlet channel, the oil inlet hole and the groove. A resin solvent can help. If ridges have formed, remove them with a guide bar dressing tool.
Once clean and dry, refit the cutting attachment and replace the sprocket cover.
STIHL pro tips
Store your chainsaw with the scabbard fitted and keep it in a dry place.
Before long periods of storage, especially breaks of three months or more, give your chainsaw a thorough clean.
Clean and resharpen the cutting set
Remove the guide bar and saw chain. Clean them as described above and check their condition.
If the teeth need sharpening or burrs have formed on the guide rail, remove them carefully with a guide bar dressing tool.
After cleaning, lightly oil the guide bar and chain. Store them separately from the housing in a protective cover.
Clean the case
Remove dust and sawdust from the housing. Clean the area around the sprocket.
Fill the oil tank
If the oil tank needs cleaning, you can do this yourself. Cleaning may reveal damage. If it does, contact us to help identify which part needs repair.
If you clean it yourself, fill the oil tank completely before storage and leave it full.
Clean the oil passage
Check the oil level in the tank. During normal use, the level should drop. If it does not, the oil supply may be blocked.
Clean the oil passages or contact us for technical help on how to do this.
Special tips for battery and petrol saws
For battery chainsaws, store the battery correctly:
- Clean the battery with a damp cloth.
- Store it with around two LEDs showing charge.
- Keep the battery separate from the chainsaw and charger.
- Wipe the charger with a damp cloth and clean the contacts with a brush if needed.
Cleaning a petrol chainsaw takes a little more work. Follow these steps:
- First, empty the fuel tank. Then start the chainsaw and let it idle until it runs out of fuel and stops. This helps prevent the carburettor membrane from sticking.
- Check the spark plug and cooling air outlet. Clean if needed.
- Clean the air filter.
Clean the air filter regularly to prevent wear.
For more cleaning and maintenance advice, check your product’s instruction manual or contact us.
This article is based on content originally published by STIHL. The original version can be found here. Content used with permission.
